KPM Porcelain Plaque Depicting Medea After Nathaniel Sichel
Our KPM plaque after the original painting by Nathaniel Sichel (German, 1843-1907), depicts Medea, the daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis and wife of Jason, standing in front of a large marbe column with dagger in hand. Apparently unsigned. Plaque measures 6 3/8 by 9 1/4 inches. Frame measures 14 by 16 by 1 inches. Rear has the impressed KPM sceptre, number 96 and smaller impressed mark W.
In Greek mythology, Medea was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe and the granddaughter of the sun god, Helios. Medea appears in the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, appearing in Hesiod's Theogony around 700 BC. She is best known from Euripides's tragedy, Medea, and Apollonius of Rhodes' epic, Argonautica. In most of these tales she is described as a sorceress and often depicted as a priestess of the goddess, Hecate.
In Euripides's play, Medea, Jason leaves Medea when Creon, the king of Corinth, offers him his daughter, Glauce. Medea avenges her husband's betrayal by killing their children. A popular tale in the history of high art, Medea is thus depicted commonly with dagger in hand as in this work after Sichel.
( Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin )
